Comment

Representation ID: 15509

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Environment Agency

We are supportive of the plan's vision to grow the Borough sustainably, protecting its environment and realising opportunities to enhance the quality and provision of facilities and minimising the negative impacts of development. It is important to recognise that planning can not only protect existing natural assets, but can also provide opportunities to achieve environmental gains. The vision could be strengthened by changing 'minimising negative impacts' to 'preventing negative impacts'.

Support

Representation ID: 15510

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Environment Agency

We are pleased that this policy ensures development sites will be identified having regard to environmental quality, including wildlife, flood risk, and air and water pollution.

Comment

Representation ID: 15511

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Environment Agency

Whilst we have no comments to make on this policy. We have already provided our advice on this strategic site through the Joint Consultation with Basildon Council last year.

Comment

Representation ID: 15512

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Environment Agency

8. Economic Prosperity: It is a shame that these objectives do not explicitly link the role of natural assets in a prospering economy.

Support

Representation ID: 15513

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Environment Agency

We support this policy, in particular point f, which ensures that rural development will only be supported where it has no unacceptable effect on water quality, flooding, watercourses, biodiversity or important wildlife habitats. However, it is not clear from the policy wording or supportive text what is meant by 'unacceptable effects'. Ideally, this should be made clearer to ensure the policy is properly enforced.

Support

Representation ID: 15514

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Environment Agency

Environment, Landscape, Wildlife and Conservation: We are pleased that this text highlights the environment as an attraction for visitors. This in turn can bring great economic benefits to the area.

Support

Representation ID: 15515

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Environment Agency

We are very supportive of this policy, which gives regard to conserving and enhancing biodiversity and habitats, including the creation of new habitats.

Support

Representation ID: 15516

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Environment Agency

We are also very supportive of this policy, which provides a lot of detail on the requirements for development proposals affecting wildlife and nature conservation sites. We are pleased that this policy references Local Wildlife Sites and Local Nature Reserves, as these are not explicitly afforded protection through the National Planning Policy Framework. We are also pleased to note that river corridors and wetlands are listed as features which could be used as mitigation or compensatory measures.

Support

Representation ID: 15517

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Environment Agency

We support this policy and welcome the third paragraph in particular, which promotes the importance of smaller scale contributions to landscape and biodiversity, such as wildlife gardens, ponds, and green roofs and walls, as well as wider habitat creation.

Comment

Representation ID: 15518

Received: 10/05/2016

Respondent: Environment Agency

10: Quality of Life and Community Infrastructure. It is recognised in principle that sustainable development is being promoted in this chapter of the Plan. It is good that the Local Plan will tie in and adhere to the recommendations of the Brentwood Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) and the South Essex Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) which is currently being reviewed. In the near future, there could be additional recommendations highlighted in our emerging Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs).